KISORO | Day Two of nominations in Kisoro has brought a significant twist to the by-election as Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, who lost the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries to Rose Kabagyeni, was nominated as an independent candidate.
The day began with the nomination of Aisha Cyimpaye from the People’s Progressive Party at 10:05am. Later, Akifeza, arriving with a crowd of supporters chanting her name, was nominated at 12:53pm as an independent candidate.
Clad in a gold (yellow) dira, she expressed confidence in her bid, emphasizing her right to represent the people of Kisoro.
Akifeza clarified her decision to run independently, stating, “I am not defiant but a candidate with the right to represent Kisoro. If you cut my hand, I’m yellow under President Museveni. I have come under NRM’s guidance, not to divide the party but to bring unity among the Bafumbira.”
Salim Sultana, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, was nominated at 2:01 PM, accompanied by NUP Secretary General David Lewis Lubongoya and Mityana MP Francis Zaake Butebi.
Sultana criticized the ruling government, claiming it has failed to fulfill promises to Kisoro. She vowed to challenge the NRM’s dominance, saying, “The notion that Kisoro votes NRM 100% has to stop. I am ready to plant the NUP seed in Kisoro.”
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu arrived in a convoy to officially open the party’s Kisoro office. H
e thanked locals for their warm reception, saying, “The welcome we received shows it’s the people versus the regime.”
He disputed claims that NUP lacks support in western Uganda, pointing to the strong turnout in Kisoro as evidence.
Mbale Ingabire of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) was also nominated later in the day at 3:53 PM.
The by-election seeks to fill the vacant Kisoro Woman MP seat following the death of Sarah Mateke, who served as the Woman MP and State Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs.
Six candidates have been nominated for the race, with Kisoro set to go to the polls on November 14, 2024.